Advanced Biomaterials Research in China
Authors: Yanglong Hou, Zhen Gu
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials (2023)

In China, biomaterials research has become one of the significant interdisciplinary fields and has achieved vast amounts of progress in recent years. In this special issue titled “Advanced Biomaterials Research in China”, Advanced Healthcare Materials presents 18 review and research articles showcasing development summaries and the latest research findings in this field. Biomaterials can typically be categorized into synthetic and natural materials. Synthetic biomaterials can be easily integrated with specific functional groups and properties through rational design, synthesis, and construction. Therefore, they can be incorporated into a wide range of functional entities. For instance, implantable medical devices for tissue engineering can be prepared from shape memory polymers (see article 2300400 by Jinsong Leng and co-workers); precision therapeutic strategies can be achieved via stimulus-responsive catalytic biomaterials (see article 2201607 by Hong Yu, Yu Chen, and co-workers) and stimulus-triggered self-degradable DNA hydrogels (see article 2203031 by Yinchao Li, Kaixiang Zhang, and co-workers); photoacoustic contrast agents are used for bioimaging of tumors, brain vasculatures, inflammation, and in vivo catalytic reaction process (see article 2202208 by Peng Huang and co-workers). Synthetic biomaterials also play a crucial role in advanced drug delivery for targeted delivery and controlled release. For example, drug delivery systems modified with boronate building blocks can facilitate intracellular protein delivery via enhanced protein uptake, endosomal escape, and protein release (see article 2202049 by Qianyi Ren, Yiyun Cheng, and Jia Lv). Mesoporous silica nanoparticles with various structures, such as ordered structures, hollow structures, core–shell structures, and dendritic structures, or biodegradability, can be incorporated with varied controlled release mechanisms to achieve precise drug delivery and bioimaging (see article 2201884 by Hong Yang, Yiyao Liu, and co-workers). Additionally, Weikang Hu, Shengmin Zhang, Jianglin Wang, and co-workers described how monoporous microspheres could dynamically and movably deliver drugs, achieving the dual effect of stimulating regenerative repair of cranial defects and alleviating systemic osteoporosis (see article 2201242). On the other hand, natural materials often have merits of excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, low immunogenicity, and low toxicity, making them suitable for biomedical applications. For example, collagen is a naturally existing biomaterial in our body, and collagen-based biomaterials have generated high commercial value in hemostasis, burns, soft tissue filling, tissue engineering, and drug-controlled release, with the collagen market in China exceeding 28.8 billion yuan (US$ 4.16 billion) in 2021. The comprehensive progress of collagen-based biomaterials' structure, cross-linking and forming techniques, and practical applications have been reviewed in this issue by Xuechuan Wang, Huie Jiang, Xinhua Liu, and co-workers (see article 2202042). Cell-derived exosomes carrying a wealth of cell biological information have great potential in the biomedical field. Their modification strategy and biomedical applications in tissue engineering have been summarized by Qiang Peng and co-workers (see article 2201989). Moreover, a bone scaffold doped with bone growth factor has been reported to possess osteoconductive and osteogenic properties (see article 2201886 by Huaqiong Li and co-workers). Wenguo Cui, Chao Tong, and co-workers also surveyed the design, function and application of different biomedical materials for endometrial repair (see article 2202490). The development of biomaterials benefits greatly from nanotechnology, surface modification technology, and 3D printing technology. These technologies allow biomaterials to be bio-active, programmable, and multifunctional in achieving theragnostic goals. For instance, highly sensitive and selective sensors for full imaging of inner organs and tissues for disease diagnosis and treatment efficacy monitoring are urgently needed but challenging to realize. Nanotechnology can be leveraged to achieve this goal. Nanomaterials, including Au/Ag nanoparticles, carbon nanofibers, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, metal–organic frameworks, and Fe3O4 nanoparticles, have expanded the electrochemical detection performance for biomarker detection in biosensors (see article 2203029 by Zhenyu Chu, Zhengliang Ma, and co-workers). Also, Chuangnian Zhang, Weiwei Wang, Pingsheng Huang, and co-workers, developed label-free zwitterionic fluorinated hydrogels to perform 19F MRI at ultra-high scan resolution (scan thickness of 1 mm), thus allowing non-invasive surveillance (see article 2201894). Nanotechnology has revolutionized the field of biomaterial-based pharmaceutical delivery vehicles by enhancing their delivery efficiency and therapeutic outcomes. In a study by Changyou Zhan, Jiquan Zhang, Lei Tang, and co-workers (see article 2300639), lipid nanodiscs and liposomes were prepared to orally deliver oleanolic acid DKS26, resulting in improved bioavailability. Meanwhile, supramolecular photothermal nanoparticles self-assembled by corrole and chitosan (see article 2201651 by Ying-Wei Yang, Jian Tian, and co-workers) exhibited improved photothermal conversion efficiency and antibacterial effects for diabetic wound healing. Surface modification technology is another beneficial technique for improving biomaterial properties. For example, bio-inspired micro-nanopatterns or anisotropic patterns generated through surface modification technology can create antibacterial materials (see article 2202073 by Babak Mehrjou, Guomin Wang, Paul K. Chu, and co-workers). Additionally, surface modification techniques can be used to create Janus micro/nano robots, which integrate different properties into a single particle, allowing them to perform multiple functions simultaneously (see article 2202391 by Guang-Zhong Yang, Kun Qian, and co-workers). Finally, 4D printing technology that combines shape memory polymers with 3D printing enables the personalization of biomedical devices (see article 2201975 by Yanju Liu, Jinsong Leng, and co-workers). This special issue highlights the dynamic and diverse development in the field of biomaterials research in China, covering perspectives of drug delivery, tissue engineering, diagnosis, and biomedical devices. Meanwhile, we firmly believe the dynamic and diverse collaboration across the word will sustainably bring in high-quality innovation and accelerate clinical translation in this field. Yanglong Hou is a Changjiang Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Peking University (PKU). He received his Ph.D. degree from Harbin Institute of Technology in 2000, and then accepted a postdoctoral fellowship from Peking University, and two years later became JSPS foreign special researcher at the University of Tokyo and research associate at Brown University. In 2007, Dr. Hou jointed the College of Engineering at PKU as tenure-track professor and was promoted to a full professor in 2012. His research interests are mainly in nanomaterials related to magnetic nanoscale materials, biomedicine, and new energy materials. Zhen Gu is a Qiushi Distinguished Chair Professor and Dean of the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Zhejiang University. He also serves as the director of the National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems in China. Dr. Gu received his B.S. degree in chemistry and M.S. degree in polymer chemistry and physics from Nanjing University. In 2010, he obtained his Ph.D. degree in chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Before he moved to Zhejiang University in 2020, he had been a full professor in the Department of Bioengineering at UCLA. His group focuses on controlled drug delivery, bio-inspired materials, and nanobiotechnology, especially for cancer and diabetes treatment.